Cardiac Diagnostic Services
Holter Monitoring
During Holter monitoring the patient wears a small digital monitor connected to electrodes which are applied to the chest. The monitor records the electrocardiogram (EKG) of the patient. The patient keeps an electronic diary of activities and any associated symptoms, usually for 24 hours. Then the data is analyzed and we try to correlate any heart irregularities with specific activities noted in the patient’s diary.
How it helps
- Detects the quantity and quality of cardiac dysrhythmias.
- Evaluates chest pain.
- Evaluates cardiac status after acute myocardial infarction or pacemaker implantation.
- Evaluates effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drug therapy.
- Assesses and correlates shortness of breath (dysnpea), central nervous system symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness and palpitations with actual cardiac events and activities.
Patient Risk Factors
None.
Special Patient Information
Patients are to go about their normal activity except they cannot take a bath or submerge the Holter monitor.
Other Information
Although ambulatory electrocardiography correlates patient symptoms and EKG changes, it does not always identify their causes. If initial monitoring proves inconclusive the test may be repeated or cardiac event monitoring may be performed.